Katz Invitational

Katz Invitational Case Competition 2021 Logo

Signature Competition, Signature Experience

Each year, the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business hosts an invitational case competition that showcases the skills and talents of MBA students around the country. This year, the competition will encourage MBA students to envision change and transformation that advances equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Katz is partnering with the organization Vibrant Pittsburgh, whose mission to build a thriving and inclusive Pittsburgh region by attracting, retaining and elevating a diversity of talent will be front and center of the case. MBA students will be tasked to critically analyze a business case and formulate and present creative and feasible recommendations centered around fostering a diverse inclusive business environment. This provides students the opportunity to evaluate challenges that many organizations may currently be experiencing, and present recommendations to senior executives and professionals.

PRIZES
1st place: $10,000
2nd place: $5,000
3rd place: $3,000

Note: U.S. citizens, Resident Aliens, and Non-Resident Alien Foreign Nationals who win the competition will receive a monetary award that is subject to tax withholding.

This year’s competition will be held on Saturday, November 6th.
Register: https://pittbusiness.wufoo.com/forms/zae6oep0kxsnax/
Questions or concerns? Contact us at casecompetition@katz.pitt.edu.

COVID-19 STATEMENT
Based on current federal, state, and local guidance, the 2021 Katz Invitational Case Competition is being planned in a virtual format. Information and updates will be sent to the contact from each school as it becomes available. The University of Pittsburgh and Katz Graduate School of Business are not responsible for any fees or expenses related to travel changes resulting from a shift to a virtual format.

For more information about the University of Pittsburgh’s approach to COVID-19 safety, please visit https://www.coronavirus.pitt.edu/.

COMPETITION RULES

Each university will be represented by one team of 4 (four) graduate students pursuing a Master-level degree. Only one team per school can participate, and all team members must be enrolled at the same university and be active students enrolled in classes during the time of the competition. Teams should be comprised of students pursuing a Masters degree at a graduate business school, and must include at least 2 students pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Teams may be a combination of domestic and international students. Executive MBA students and Ph.D. students are not eligible to participate.

Given the case focus, we strongly encourage teams to consider their own diversity and comprise themselves of students of various backgrounds and experiences. Teams are expected to be 50% of students from underrepresented groups. The Vibrant Pittsburgh Index defines “underrepresented groups” as racial and ethnic minorities, such as African American/Black, Latino/Latinx/Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; LGBTQIA+ populations; women; people with disabilities; and veteran and military personnel.

COMPETITION FORMAT
All teams will participate in a preliminary round bracket, where they will present their case analysis and recommendations. Teams will be allotted exactly 20 minutes to present. Following the presentation, judges will conduct a question and answer (Q&A) session for 10 minutes. Once Q&A has concluded, team members will be provided the opportunity to receive feedback from the judges.

After presentations have concluded for all groups, there will be a luncheon. During the luncheon, the finalist teams will be announced. One finalist from each bracket will compete in the final rounds later that afternoon. There will be 1st – 3rd place winning teams; winning teams will be recognized on Saturday evening during the awards reception.

Similar to the first round, teams will presentation strictly within the 20-minutes guideline and be provided 15 minutes for Q&A with the judges. The final presentations are open to public viewing and non-finalist teams are encouraged to watch the final round of the competition.

JUDGING
The panel of judges will be composed of professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences related to the topic at hand. Judges will include members from Vibrant Pittsburgh and professionals/executives working on DE&I challenges within organizations. The judges for the preliminary round and final round will be different panels.

Presentations will be judged based on the team’s ability to analyze the information presented in the case, as well as to communicate a recommended course of action clearly and effectively. Importance will be placed on the creativity of response and feasibility of the team’s solution.

Judges will complete a feedback form for each team; general feedback will be given at the end of the presentation.

RESERVING YOUR SPOT
Schools interested in participating should complete the below registration form. Schools can complete payment now and provide student team information closer to the date of the competition. Selection of schools will be on a first-come, first-serve basis of those that completed this form. All payments are non-refundable for schools selected to participate.
https://pittbusiness.wufoo.com/forms/zae6oep0kxsnax/

Closer to the date of the competition, an email will be sent to the contact provided on the above registration form to collect information about the student participants from each school.
Questions or concerns? Contact us at casecompetition@katz.pitt.edu.

ORGANIZING TEAM
The Katz Invitational Case Competition would not be possible without the hard work of a select group of dedicated individuals from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The student organizing team works in close collaboration with the Graduate Programs Office to ensure the high quality and success of this event.

STEERING COMMITTEE
Sakshi Middha – Student Project Manager
Chahee Park – Marketing Coordinator
Karlee Killen – Marketing Coordinator
Tiffany Bicek – Logistics Coordinator
Breanna Wallbaum – School Outreach
Rohan Sethi – School Outreach
Simone Jurinko
Samuel Musselman
Laura Oknefski
Christopher Barlow
Michael Chott

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Today, I seek out classes and opportunities (like the Super Analytics Challenge) to learn and grow in this new area. I feel empowered and proud in a way I wouldn’t have thought possible a few years ago.

Rebecca Farabaugh

MS '22

There was a great spirit of cooperation and camaraderie amongst my fellow students. I keep in touch with a number of my fellow Katz classmates to this day and we all agree that our time at Katz had a significant impact on our lives and careers.

Scott Frenz

MBA '02